Electr Eng
DOI 10.1007/s00202-015-0354-1
ORIGINAL PAPER
Lumped parameter method of permanent magnet synchronous
generator for wind energy
Yasemin Oner1 · İbrahim Şenol1
Received: 16 October 2014 / Accepted: 22 November 2015
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015
Abstract The breakthroughs in permanent magnet syn-
chronous machines through the latest technologies, espe-
cially about machine design, raise the importance of those
machines. Moreover, developments in materials technology
implement the development of cost effective and profitable
products on electric machines. Permanent magnet synchro-
nous machines are divided into two parts according to the
situation of slot/pole combination, which is integer or frac-
tional. Permanent magnet synchronous machines are subject
of interest due to low torque ripple and low cogging torque.
In this paper, the 2D lumped parameter method (LPM) of
permanent magnet synchronous machine was composed and
stated, and lumped parameter was verified by finite element
method. When SMC materials are used in electric machines,
flux flows in 3D. Because of this and according to literatures,
3D method is used to analyze the SMC-used machines. 3D
finite element method takes a quite long time. Thanks to
2D LPM analysis, which was used in our work; the analysis
period become remarkably shorter. In addition, torque and
back EMF of permanent magnet synchronous machine were
calculated through the developed LPM method. Prototype is
tested. It is seen by the results that the produced prototype
and the developed algorithm are matching properly.
Keywords Lumped parameter method · Permanent
magnet machine · Wind energy · Soft magnetic composite
B Yasemin Oner
yoner@yildiz.edu.tr
1 [11,12], mesh-based LPM was discussed. In [13–16], flux
Department of Electrical Engineering, Electric and
Electronics Faculty, Yildiz Technical University, Davutpasa
Campus, Istanbul, Turkey
1 Introduction
Technical developments of electrical machine design
increase related to magnetic material developments. Dur-
ing the last decade, different types of magnetic materials
have been used, including pure iron and its alloys, such as
Fe–Ni, Fe–Ni–P, Fe–Nd–B and Fe–Si, and soft and hard fer-
rites, such as Ni–Zn, Mn–Zn and Ba ferrites [1]. Considering
the technical literature, it can be seen that for conventional
machines, laminated steel is used as rotor and stator core
material. In recent years, with the development of powder
technology, the use of soft magnetic composite material is
increasing. Although this material has low permeability, its
effect on permanent magnet synchronous machines’ perfor-
mance is lower than asynchronous and reluctance motors’
performances. Field effect of permanent magnet machines
are provided by magnets, therefore, SMC materials are ideal
for permanent magnet synchronous machines.
Flux of SMC materials is 3-dimensional (3D). Consider-
ing the technical literature, magnetic equivalent circuit for
machines with SMC material is 3D. 3D magnetic equivalent
circuit increases the analysis time and process complexity.
Magnetic circuit models have been used to study a
wide variety of machine types and configurations includ-
ing switched reluctance, induction, surface PM variable
reluctance, brushless dc (BLDC), and flux switching PM
machines. The majority of the reported LPM is used for pre-
diction of basic machine performance characteristics such as
torque production and terminal voltage–current characteris-
tics [2].
LPM was originally proposed and developed in [3–6].
A synchronous machine model was presented in [7–10]. In
leakage was modeled by different means, which is crucial in
the analysis of motors. An accurate yet simple method for
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predicting the flux density distribution and iron losses in lin-

ear PMSM was presented in [17]. However, 2D LPM was
not used for PM machine with SMC material in literature. In
addition, SMC material has been used for axial machine for
PM machine. In this paper, SMC material is used for radial
flux PM machine.
In this study, back EMF and torque of machine that
designed with SMC material in stator is analyzed and com-
pared with prototype results. Using the 2D LPM, analyzing
time is shortened. With the LPM method, PMSM torque
and induced voltage are calculated. It can be seen from the
obtained results that the prototype and the algorithm are com-
Fig. 1 Used SMC material’s untreated state
patible.

2 Soft magnetic material

The main structure of SMC is coherence of iron filings of high

purity. These dust particles get in coherence with organical
material covering. The covered iron filings are compressed
into solid material through die. This kind of materials is nat-
urally powder in form, therefore, generally they are magnetic
isotropic, and this provides the simplicity in design [18,19].
Soft magnetic materials include iron filings covered with iso-
lated film coating. These iron filings are dissociated with
electrical isolation; therefore, this kind of materials has high
electrical resistance. They are structured by the compression
of iron filings. The resistivity of SMC depends on material’s
ferromagnetic and mechanical characteristics, size of iron fil-
ings, density, insulating material, compression process and
thermal behavior transformation. SMC material’s magnetic
and mechanical characteristics not only depend on iron fil-
ings but also on the proportion of injected oil, resin, and cold
or hot compression process. If the SMC material is not sin-
tered, endurance of material becomes lower than laminated
SMC or sintered SMC. SMC material’s characteristics can
be made suitable for special applications [20]. SMC materi-
als are isotropic, therefore, they have low conductivity and
higher hysteresis loss than conventional steel. SMC mater-
ial’s electrical, thermal and magnetic characteristics depend
on material’s production process. Soft magnetic material’s
B–H curve is shown in Fig. 2. As seen from the figure, satu-
ration point of SMC material is low thus while designing
machine with SMC material, magnetic flux density must
be lower than 1.2 T for areas that include SMC material.
Used SMC material’s brand is Hoganas and untreated state
is shown in Fig. 1.
3 SMC permanent magnet generator LPM analysis
Magnetic equivalent circuit method is one of the oldest
methods used for studying magnetic analysis. Although this
Fig. 2 Comparison of electrical steel and SMC material’s B–H curves
method is faster than finite elements method, its accuracy is
lower than the finite elements method. However, it is one of
the fastest methods for beginning design and optimization.
LPM models always treat the permanent magnet (PM) as
one common source and all branches of LPM are coupled
together to become a large LPM network. If flux leakage is
also considered, the complexity of these models is increased
and the analysis process would become extremely compli-
cated as well [21].
The main parameters of magnetic equivalent circuit
method are machine type, geometry, and material charac-
teristics. In principle, modeling is done with electric circuit
analogy. Each part of machine is modeled with reluctance.
Flux way is important. Flux way of permanent magnet syn-
chronous machine with radial flux is radial from rotor to
stator. Reluctance frequency, although slows down the analy-
sis of the machine, gives more accurate results. Principal
magnetic equivalent circuit is shown in Fig. 3. Principal mag-
netic circuit model ignores leakage flux, but flux not only
moves from rotor to stator but also between slots, between
magnets and between slot and magnet, and thus the leakage
flux occurs. Leakage flux between slots is shown in Fig. 4. To
model the permanence network in Fig. 5, Kirchhoff’s current
law is applied at each node to create a system of nonlineare-
quations.

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Fig. 5 Non-linear magnetic equivalent circuit

Fig. 3 Principal magnetic equivalent circuit

(Ui − Ui+1 )G so + (Ui − Ui−1 )G so + (Ui − U1 )G i,1
+ · · · + (Ui − Ul )G i,l = φi (1)
     
U j − U j+1 G r o + U j − U j−1 G r o + U j − U1 G i,1
 
+ · · · + U j − Uh G i,h = φ j (2)
AG u = φ (3)
 
 AG 1 AG 2 
 
AG =   (4)
 AG 3 AG 4 

Fig. 4 Leakage flux between slots

 
 l 
 2G so + G i, j −G so −G so 0 
 
 i=1 
  l 
 −G so 2G so + −G so 
 G i−1, j 0 
 
AG 1 = i=1
 (5)
  l 
 −G so 0 2G so + G i+1, j 0 
 
 i=1 
 l 
 0 −G so 0 2G so + G i−2, j 

i=1

 
In this system, first, permanent magnet flux represents input,  G i, j −G i, j−1 −G i, j+1 −G i, j−2 

while nodal magnetic potentials represent outputs. Second, G −G i−1, j−1 −G i−1, j+1 −G i−1, j−2 
AG 2 =  i−1, j 
 G i+1, j −G i+1, j−1 −G i+1, j+1 −G i+1, j−2 
winding source flux represents input, while nodal magnetic
potentials represent output. Therefore, in this way, armature  G i−2, j −G i−2, j−1 −G i−2, j+1 −G i−2, j−2 
reaction is discussed. As mentioned in Fig: (6)

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 G i, j −G i−1, j −G i+1, j −G i−2, j  • Hysteresis and Eddy currents are neglected.

G −G i−1, j−1 −G i+1, j−1 −G i−2, j−1  • Current is regarded as sinusoidal.
AG 3 =  i, j−1 
 G i, j+1 −G i−1, j+1 −G i+1, j+1 −G i−2, j+1  • SMC material is used for stator core.
 G i, j−2 −G i−1, j−2 −G i+1, j−2 −G i−2, j−2 
(7)

 
 l 
 2G r o + G i, j + G m −G r o −G r o 0 
 
 i=1 
 l 
 −G r o 2G r o + G i, j + G m −G r o 
 0 
 
AG 4 = i=1
 (8)
 l 
 −G r o 0 2G r o + G i, j + G m 0 
 
 i=1 
 l 
 0 −G 0 2G + G + G 
 ro ro i, j m
i=1

 T 4 Back EMF analysis

U = Ui Ui−1 Ui+1 Ui−2 U j U j−1 U j+1 U j−2
φ = [0 0 0 0 Fm G m Fm G m Fm G m Fm G m ]T
φ = [N i s N i s N i s N i s 0 0 0 0] T
Two-dimensional cross-section of machine is shown in
Fig. 6. The stator has windings concentrated around each
stator pole. The number of winding turns of each phase is
216. The rare-earth magnet “Nd–Fe–B” is buried in the rotor
iron. Residual magnetic flux density Br and coercive force
Hc of the permanent magnet are about 1.3 T and 1000 kA/m,
respectively. The following assumptions have been made for
the analysis:
• The used materials have homogeneous properties.
• Ns = Nm
• First, no load is applied.
• The stator teeth and permanent magnets are rigid; no
deformation due to radial and tangential force is expe-
rienced by these components.
(9)
(10) The cross-section of the machine with nine slots and ten poles
(11) is shown in Fig. 7. In this analytical model, flux direction is
from magnet pole to armature. The generated voltage and
inducted current are in the same direction with flux. Rotor
position depends on magnet poles. The center of the slot
between A-phase winding and B-phase winding builds up
reference axis [22].
Ideal magnetic flux density is shown in Fig. 8.
The distribution functions of the magnetic flux density
depending on rotor angle:
⎧ ⎫
⎨ Bg max for 0 < θ < θ1 and θ4 < θ < θ5 ⎬
Bg (θ ) = −Bgmax for θ2 < θ < θ3
⎩ ⎭
0
(12)

Fig. 7 Cross-section of the machine whose slot/pole ratio is 9/10

Fig. 6 2D cross-section of the permanent magnet synchronous

machine Fig. 8 Change of magnetic flux density depending on rotor angle

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Fig. 11 Inducted voltage waveform of A phase obtained by FEA model

Fig. 9 Changes of air gap and magnetic flux density that were obtained
and magnetic equivalent circuit method
with FEA model and magnetic equivalent circuit method

Winding distribution factor:

1 
sin 2 σ n

kd,n = (16)
z sin nσ
2z
π Nm
γs = (17)
Ns
ε = π − γs (18)
Fig. 10 Magnetic flux density from FEA
Pitch factor:
In Eq. 12,
ken = cos(nε) (19)
θm p θm p θm p kw,n = kd,n ∗ ke,n (20)
θ1 = , θ2 = θ p p − , θ3 = θ p p + ,
2 2 2 Ns √
θm p En = kwn ωm L stk rr o Bgn 2 (21)
θ4 = 2θ p p − , θ5 = 2θs p N ph
2 ea = E 1 sin (ωt) + E 3 sin (3ωt) . . . (22)
The air gap and flux density distribution of the nine slots ten
poles machine is shown in Fig. 9. Inducted voltage waveform of the nine slots ten poles struc-
Figure 10 shows the flux contour profile and FEA distrib- tured machine is shown in Fig. 11
ution of the air gap in the permanent magnet machine.
Change in the magnetic flux density depending on rotor
rotation is shown in Fig. 9. Flux function obtained from flux 5 Torque analysis
density,
Cogging torque and electromagnetic torque of a PM machine

−−−→ −−−→ are calculated according to Maxwell’s stress tensor method
ψ (θ ) = Bg (θ )dS (13)
as,

According to Faraday law, change of flux depending on time L
T = r Bn Bt dl (23)
gives the induced voltage. Thus, μ0
S
dψ (θ )
e (θ ) = − (14) where S is air gap surface constituted by the layers between
dθ
stator and rotor, g is air gap length. According to Virtual work
Important parameters of inducted voltage are magnetic flux method, electromagnetic torque is equal to the derivative of
density and winding factor. Winding factor calculated with the magnetic co-energy Wm’ with respect to rotor angle at
below statements; constant current [19].

z=
Ns
(15) ∂W
GCD(Ns , Nm .N ph ) T = (24)
∂θ

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Fig. 15 Fractional slotted

permanent magnet synchronous
machine’s stator with SMC
material drawings

Fig. 12 Torque that obtained by FEA model and magnetic equivalent

circuit method Fig. 15 and molding of stator, gouging and opened states
of the slots is shown in Fig. 16. CNC opened the slots. Motor
body is made of aluminum and shaft is made of stainless steel
(Figs. 17, 18).
Winding structure is shown in detail in Fig. 19. Wind-
ings of the fractional slotted permanent magnet synchronous
machine with SMC material are concentrated type and each
of them is wound surrounding the tooth (Figs. 20, 21).

7 Test arrangement of permanent magnet

Fig. 13 Torque–speed generator analysis

The block diagram and test arrangement of the system to

measure the back EMF are shown in Figs. 22 and 23. Test
arrangement includes actuating stepper motor and driver,
torque sensor to do torque data acquisition, NI usb analog dig-
ital data converter and fractional slotted permanent magnet
synchronous machine with SMC material to measure back
EMF values.

8 Comparison of FEA, LPM and test result

Fig. 14 Power–speed

In this part, to do back EMF tests, stepper motor rotates at 500

According to Eq. (24); rpm speed and instantaneous values are measured at wind-
ings. These values are compared with the values that were
∂W
∂ W  ∂t ∂t P ea i a + eb i b + ec i c acquired from FEA analysis and lumped parameter method
T = = ∂θ
= = (25) (LPM). Comparison of back EMF values and torque values
∂t ∂θ ∂t
ω ω
is shown in Figs. 24 and 25.
is obtained. Comparison of the peak values of the back EMF is shown
According to the torque results given in Fig. 12, the dif- in Fig. 25 and Table 1
ference between the results of LPM and FEA is less than 1 %
torque–speed and power–speed curve is shown in Figs. 13
and 14. 9 Conclusion

Permanent magnet synchronous generators and conventional

6 Production of permanent magnet synchronous
generator
Drawings of fractional slotted permanent magnet synchro-
nous machine’s stator with SMC material are shown in
synchronous generators have some differences such as, PM
do not require the excitation windings, and to have magnet on
rotor. Permanent magnet synchronous generators do not have
excitation windings because they do not need an additional
source that generates excitation current. This characteristic

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Fig. 16 Production process of

fractional slotted permanent
magnet synchronous machine’s
stator with SMC material. a
Molding of stator. b Opening of
slots. c Slots

Fig. 17 Shaft of the fractional Fig. 19 Winding layout

slotted permanent magnet fractional slotted permanent
synchronous machine with SMC magnet synchronous machine
material with SMC material

Fig. 20 Fitting the windings

into the stator of fractional
slotted permanent magnet
synchronous machine with SMC
material

Fig. 18 Stator and rotor of the fractional slotted permanent magnet

synchronous machine with SMC material
decreases machine losses and machine size thus permanent
magnet synchronous generators have high efficiency and
high power density which makes them advantageous for low
power applications.
Prototype machine’s type is surface magnet synchronous
machine; its slot number for each phase and pole is frac-
tional. Soft magnetic composite material (SMC) is used for
machine stator; 2D equivalent circuit method is used for
machine analysis, 3D finite elements method (FEM) is used
for comparison.
According to analysis results, it can be seen that the dif-
ference between 2D LPM values and test values is less than
5 %. SMC material is low priced and does not require mold-
ing cost, thus SMC is advantageous when compared to steel.
Because SMC material is easily shapeable; its prime cost is
low.

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Fig. 21 Prototype of fractional

slotted permanent magnet
synchronous machine with SMC
material

Fig. 25 Comparison of torque values with test results

Table 1 Comparison of the

peak values of the back EMF LMP 11.7 V
FEA 11.14 V
Test 11.8 V

To make the output EMF similar to sinusoidal form, ten

Fig. 22 Block diagram of the test arrangement
poles and nine slots configuration is preferred. This configu-
ration is preferred according to the biggest one of the greatest
common diviser of pole and slot must be chosen rule in lit-
erature. According to analysis results, the inducted voltage
and torque difference between Matlab software and FEM
software is 1 %

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